during that days,as it was tough to explore this was the reason mainly,lack of resources and experience.They wanted to discover new land so they could settle there and become rulers. They wanted to earn the name of "King of the Seas" by traveling as far and as fast as possible. They wanted to study cultures in distant lands so they could report back to their rulers with more efficient ways of governing. They wanted to seek wealth and fame for their home country. aslo like my friend